Wilkes-Barre woman charged with beating children

Wilkes-Barre police say they arrested an intoxicated woman for beating her children Monday evening on Sambourne Street.

Michelle Billson is charged with endangering the welfare of children, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.

Police said they were called to 118 Sambourne St. for the report of a drunken woman beating her children. Upon arrival, the responding officer "could clearly hear an adult female screaming at people inside the residence" and "could hear children crying inside," arrest papers say.

Police repeatedly knocked on the door and only when police threatened to break the door down did someone answer, police said.

A male, identified as Howard Billson, was holding a 14-month-old girl, police said.

Officer went in the kitchen and located a young male children who complained of leg pain. The boy said his mother threw his sister's toy at him and also struck him in the neck. He said she grabbed him and pushed him against a wall.

Police said the boy had red marks near his neck consistent with being pushed.

The boy also noted his mother grabbed the infant and placed her on the ground so forcefully that the baby struck the back of her head on the ground.

The child was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, police said.

Michelle Billson was jailed in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

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